Designing and cross-configuring software

ABSTRACT

Various embodiments create a cross-configuration software module for cross-configuring software entities. In one embodiment, a first set of requirements and at least a second set of requirements are obtained. Each of the first and second set of requirements identify at least one of a set of software entities and a set of hardware components required to be present on at least one system including software entities to be cross-configured. At least one set of operations is obtained. The set of operations includes at least one executable instruction that configures a first software entity with a second software entity. A first configuration definition is generated including at least the first set of requirements and the at least one set of operations. A second configuration definition is generated including at least the second set of requirements. The first and second configuration definitions are stored within a cross-configuration software module.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related to the following co-pending applications:U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/036,588 entitled “Designing andBuilding Virtual Images Using Semantically Rich Composable SoftwareImage Bundles”, filed on Feb. 28, 2011, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 12/895,461 entitled “Semantically Rich ComposableSoftware Image Bundles”, filed on Sep. 30, 2010; U.S. application Ser.No. 12/476,006 entitled “Virtual Solution Composition and DeploymentSystem and Method”, filed Jun. 1, 2009; U.S. application Ser. No.12/210,139 entitled “Deployment Pattern Realization With Models OfComputing Environments”, filed Sep. 12, 2008. The teachings and contentsof all of these related patent applications are hereby incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention generally relates to software configuration, andmore particularly relates to cross-configuring software with reusablesoftware cross-configuration modules.

Cloud computing platforms and virtualization technologies enable theprovisioning of computing utilities as a service. This includes, but isnot limited to, infrastructure-as-a service (IaaS),platform-as-a-service (PaaS), or software-as-a-service (SaaS). Softwareproviders, solution providers, and end-users commonly use pre-packagedsoftware solutions that are provided as virtual images. These virtualimages are pre-packaged with software that exposes a set ofconfiguration parameters specific to certain software packages. Thepre-packaged software is referred to as a composable software bundle(bundle) and represents a cloud independent description of software thatcaptures those aspects needed to install and configure it in a virtualappliance/machine (VM). This description allows the bundle to be used tosupport image construction for multiple target cloud platforms. However,many distributed software applications require multiple virtual imagesfor deployment and provisioning. Therefore, software on one virtualimage generally needs to be cross-configured with software on anothervirtual image. Conventional configuration methods usually require ahuman to manually cross-configure software across multiple virtualimages and even within the same virtual image. Manualcross-configuration of software is very time consuming, costly, anderror prone.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a method for creating a cross-configuration softwaremodule for cross-configuring software entities is disclosed. The methodcomprises obtaining a first set of requirements and at least a secondset of requirements. Each of the first and second set of requirementsidentify at least one set of software entities required to be present onat least one system comprising software entities to be cross-configured.At least one set of operations is obtained. The at least one set ofoperations comprises at least one executable instruction that configuresat least a first software entity with at least a second software entity.A first configuration definition is generated comprising at least thefirst set of requirements and the at least one set of operations. Asecond configuration definition is generated comprising at least thesecond set of requirements. The first and second configurationdefinitions are stored within a cross-configuration software module. Thesoftware configuration module cross-configures software entities withinsystems satisfying the set of requirements in the first and secondconfiguration definitions.

In another embodiment, a method for creating a cross-configurationsoftware module for cross-configuring software entities is disclosed.The method comprises retrieving a semantic representation of a set ofsystems capable of utilizing the cross-configuration software module. Afunctional representation of a set of operations is retrieved. Eachoperation in the set of operations is to be performed on a set ofsoftware entities associated with the set of systems during at least oneconnector life-cycle phase in a set of connector life-cycle phases. Theset of operations cross-configure at least a first of the set ofsoftware entities with at least a second of the set of softwareentities. A set of artifacts comprising at least one of a set ofmetadata and a set of executable instructions associated with the set ofoperations are identified. The semantic representation, the functionalrepresentation, and the set of artifacts, are stored in thecross-configuration software module.

In yet another embodiment, a method of creating a virtual system patternis disclosed. The method comprises receiving a selection of at least onesystem comprising a set of software entities. A plurality ofcross-configuration software modules is identified. Eachcross-configuration software module comprises at least two configurationdefinitions each comprising at least a set of requirements andidentifying at least one software module to be cross-configured. The setof software entities of the at least one system is compared to the setof requirements for each of the plurality of cross-configurationsoftware modules. At least one of the plurality of cross-configurationsoftware modules having the set of requirements being satisfied by atleast two of the set of software entities of the at least one system isidentified. The at least two software entities are automaticallycross-configured based on the at least two configuration definitions ofthe at least one identified cross-configuration software module.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures where like reference numerals refer toidentical or functionally similar elements throughout the separateviews, and which together with the detailed description below areincorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to furtherillustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles andadvantages all in accordance with the present invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating one example of an operatingenvironment according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates one example of a connector that can be coupled to atleast one system for cross-configuring its software entities accordingto one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a more detailed view of a connector according to oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4-5 illustrates various examples of semantic and functionaltopologies of different software entities to be cross-configuredaccording to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates one example of a semantic topology of a connectorbased on the semantic topologies of FIGS. 4-5 according to oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates one example of a functional topology of a connectorbased on the functional topologies of FIGS. 4-5 according to oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 8-12 illustrate various examples of a graphical user interface forcreating a connector according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 13 illustrates one example of a virtual system pattern according toone embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is an operational flow diagram illustrating one process ofcreating a connector according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 15 is an operational flow diagram illustrating one process ofcreating a configuration definition for a connector according to oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is an operational flow diagram illustrating one process ofdeploying/using a connector according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 17 is an operational flow diagram illustrating one process ofdeploying a virtual system pattern according to one embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 18 illustrates one example of a cloud computing node according toone embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 illustrates one example of a cloud computing environmentaccording to one example of the present invention; and

FIG. 20 illustrates abstraction model layers according to one example ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Operating Environment

Configuring software components/products on systems (e.g., virtualimages, virtual appliances/machines, etc.) to work together can bechallenging since system builders cannot anticipate at construction timehow a system is to be used in a composite of systems. For example,configuring systems to deploy a distributed software application mayrequire the installation of software components, installation scripts,and configuration scripts on one or more systems. The installation orconfiguration scripts on a particular system may require specificconfiguration parameters from configuration scripts on another system tobe functional (such as the hostname or IP address). This requires acoordinated activation mechanism to customize the software on eachsystem and propagate configuration parameters across systems.

Therefore, the cross-configuration of systems is a challenging taskrequiring numerous steps on all systems that need to be connected andconfigured. Conventional configuration mechanisms are mostly a setmanual steps following some best practices. Software or solution expertsmanually configure each system that is part of the composition or byusing pre-defined configuration scripts. This implies copying softwareartifacts, installation and configuration scripts to each system afterits deployment; orchestrating the execution the required configurationscripts and ensuring that configuration parameters are set correctly.These manual steps are a key problem and increasing cost factor becauseof the inherent lack or re-use of systems, especially in largeenterprises. The scalability of the manual approach is very low and itleads to non-repeatable installation and configuration procedures.Moreover, in virtualization environments numerous configurationparameters are only available when a virtual image has been deployed(such as the hostname that may be dynamically assigned). This requiresthe expert to manually enforce a certain startup order to be able to getcertain configuration values. This is a time consuming task andrepetitive task because it has to be done on each deployment of theapplication.

Therefore, one or more embodiments provide an operating environment 100,as shown in FIG. 1, for automatically cross-configuring softwarecomponents or software products (two or more software components) withinone or more systems using semantically rich connectors. The operatingenvironment of FIG. 1 can be a cloud computing environment or anon-cloud computing environment. FIG. 1 shows one or more networks 102that, in one embodiment, can include wide area networks, local areanetworks, wireless networks, and/or the like. In one embodiment, theenvironment 100 includes a plurality of information processing systems104, 106, 108 that are communicatively coupled to the network(s) 102.The information processing systems 104, 106, 108 include one or moreuser systems 104, 106 and one or more servers 108. The user systems 104,106 can include, for example, information processing systems such asdesktop computers, laptop computers, wireless devices such as mobilephones, personal digital assistants, and the like.

The server system 108 includes, for example, an interactive environment110 for designing, creating, and deploying connectors 112 forcross-configuring software entities 114 (also referred to herein as“software components/products”) present on or associated with one ormore systems 116, 118. A connector 112 (which is also referred to hereinas a “cross-configuration connector”, a “configuration connector”, and a“cross-configuration software module”) represents a self-containedsoftware package that automatically configures a softwarecomponent(s)/product(s) 114 present on (or associated with) a givensystem 116, 118 for operation/interaction with another softwarecomponent(s)/product(s) 114 present on (or associated with) anothersystem 116, 118 (or within the same system). In one embodiment, theinteractive environment 110 is the same as, part of, or separate from anenvironment/tool for designing and creating the systems and theirsoftware components/products. For example, the interactive environment110 can be the same as, part of, or separate from an environment/toolfor creating, designing, and/or deploying composable software bundleassets and virtual image assets. Examples of these environments/toolsare given in the commonly owned U.S. application Ser. No. 13/036,588entitled “Designing and Building Virtual Images Using Semantically RichComposable Software Image Bundles”, and the commonly owned U.S.application Ser. No. 12/895,461, entitled “Semantically Rich ComposableSoftware Image Bundles”, which are hereby incorporated by reference intheir entireties.

Users of the user systems 104, 106 interact with the interactiveenvironment 110 via a user interface 120, 122 or programmatically via anAPI. It should be noted that separate users systems are not required anda user can interact directly with the server 108 itself via a userinterface at the server 108. Examples of a user interface are a webpage, mashup, graphical user interface (GUI), a command line, etc.

The interactive environment 110, in one embodiment, comprises at least aconnector design/creation tool 124, a connector searching module 126,and a virtual system pattern (VSP) design/creation tool 128. Theconnector design/creation tool 124 enables users to define and publishreusable connectors 112. Connectors 112, in one embodiment, are storedin a connector repository 130, which can be separate from or residewithin the server 108. The connector searching module 126, in oneembodiment, identifies connectors 112 from the repository 130 that canbe used to cross-configure one or more systems 116, 118, as will bediscussed in greater detail below. These identified connectors 112 canbe automatically applied to the selected systems 116, 118 (by theinteractive environment 110) or can be presented to a user via the userinterface 120, 124 who can then select one or more of the connectors 112to be applied to the systems 116, 118. Connectors 112 and theircomponents are discussed in greater detail below.

A “system” capable of being cross-configured refers to anyentity/environment on which one or more software components/products arepresent or coupled to. For example, FIG. 1 shows systems 116, 118 suchas, but not limited to, virtual (machine) images 116, virtualappliances/machines 118, physical systems, etc. A virtual appliance(also referred to a “virtual machine”) is a given software stack that isinstalled and configured to provision a particular application orplatform to a third-party. This may require one or more virtual machineimages and software stacks that can be instantiated on a particularvirtualization environment (given that the virtual machine image formatcan be understood by the target environment). A virtual image (orvirtual machine image) is a set of files that include a pre-configuredoperating system environment and an optional software stack. A virtualimage can be instantiated by a virtualization environment.

One example of a software component/product (also referred to herein asa “software entity”) is a software bundle 114. A software bundle is acloud independent description of software that captures those aspectsneeded to install and configure it in a virtual machine. Thisdescription allows the bundle to be used to support image assetconstruction for multiple target cloud platforms. The metadata for eachbundle describes one or more of: (1) the software's requirements andcapabilities to ensure valid composition; (2) the install steps thatneed to be executed and their parameters as part of a virtual imagebuild life-cycle phase; (3) the deploy time configuration steps thatneed to be executed and their parameters as part of a virtual imagedeploy life-cycle phase (4) the deploy time configurations that can bemade with external software via virtual port definitions; and (5) thecapture time cleanup steps that need to be executed and their parametersas part of a virtual image capture life-cycle phase. The metadata cancomprise references to specific artifacts: scripts, binaries, responsefiles, etc. These can be local references (the artifacts are containedin the bundle) or remote references (to a remote repository). It shouldbe noted that other virtual image life-cycle phases such as, but notlimited to, a start phase can be supported as well.

It should be noted that even though FIG. 1 shows softwarecomponents/products as software bundles, any type of softwarecomponent/product capable of being configured is applicable toembodiments of the present invention. The software bundles 114, virtualimages 116, and virtual appliances 118 are stored within a separaterepository 132, 134, 136. These repositories can be separate from theserver 108 or one or more of these repositories can reside on the server108. Also, the contents of two of more of these repositories can residewithin a single repository as well. It should be noted that that virtualappliances 118 can comprise virtual images 116 and virtual images 116can comprise software bundles 114. It should be noted that although thefollowing discussion is directed to software bundles 114, virtual images116, and virtual appliances 118, one or more embodiments of the presentinvention are not limited to the virtual domain. Any type ofentity/environment on which one or more software components/products arepresent or coupled to is applicable to the various embodiments of thepresent invention.

Cross-Configuration Connectors

A connector 112, in one embodiment, represents a self-contained softwarepackage including semantic and functional model, artifacts, and scriptsincluding, but not limited to, installation and configuration scripts.Connectors 112 comprise a set of endpoints that identify and describethe system(s) 116, 118 capable of being cross-configured by theconnector 112. In one embodiment, these endpoints are represented asendpoint definitions comprising requirements on the systems in terms ofsoftware bundles to be installed on the instance of that system,specific software products to be installed on the system, operationsystem requirements, and hardware requirements.

The connectors 112 are advantageous because they provide separation ofconcerns and simplicity of use by encapsulating the connector logic intoa reusable package. The packaging, in one embodiment, can be performedby a skilled specialist that has an in-depth understanding of thesystems that can be connected. The resulting connector is made availablefor reuse by non-specialists. Connectors 112 enable standardizationwithin an organization by leveraging standardized components such asbundles, virtual images, virtual appliances, and/or virtual systempatterns (a composition of virtual images (or machines) bundles, and aconnector(s)) more as basic building blocks. All of these componentsfollow the same underlying modeling principles by having a semantic andfunctional topology that represents the semantically rich metadata.Connectors 112 can be re-used because they do not depend on a system,but depend on the endpoint software (i.e., the software that isinstalled/present on the system). Connectors 112 do not dictate theactual deployment topology. A connector 112 can be used tocross-configure software on single system as well as on differentsystems. Connectors 112 can be defined in a fine granular way. Multipleconnectors 112 can be used to connect the same system to allow finegranular methods of encapsulating cross-configuration knowledge within aconnector 112.

The design/creation tool 124 of the interactive environment 110 enablesusers to create a connector 112 by specifying endpoint definitions,their requirements on software bundles, software products and operatingsystem requirements, as well as hardware requirement. Thedesign/creation tool 124 also allows a user to specify installation andconfiguration operations that are executed as part of the connectorexecution at system activation time. Users are further able to specifyparameter propagation from different endpoint definitions. Theseparameters can be configuration parameters of software bundles that arepresent at an endpoint or parameters of other configuration operationsdefined in the endpoint definition. These parameters may be required asinput in the connector configuration scripts. Connectors 112 can beapplied and executed at runtime in different virtualizationenvironments. In this embodiment, the required software artifactsdefined in a connector 112 for each endpoint are packaged andtransferred it to the corresponding virtual image 116 (or virtualappliance 118) that matches the connector endpoint definitionrequirements. In addition, the necessary activation logic that canexecute the connector installation and configuration upon creation timeof the virtual image 116 is also generated.

In one embodiment, a connector 112 cross-configures systems by“connecting” to each of the selected systems and automaticallyconfiguring software components/products on one system with softwarecomponents/products on another system (or the same system). Stateddifferently, a connector 112 connects two or more softwarecomponents/products on one or more systems for cross-configurationpurposes. For example, FIG. 2 shows that a first connector (Connector 1)202 is coupled to two systems (Virtual Appliance A and Virtual ApplianceN) 204, 206 comprising virtual images 205, 207 and software bundles 208,210, 212. In particular, the first connector 202 configures VirtualAppliance A and Virtual Appliance N by configuring Software Bundle A onVirtual Appliance A to work with Software Bundle C on Virtual ApplianceN, as indicated by the arrows 214, 216. FIG. 2 also shows a secondconnector (Connector 2) 218 coupled to two software components/products208, 210 present on Virtual Appliance A. For example, the secondconnector 218 is coupled to Software Bundle A and Software Bundle B.Therefore, the second connector 218 configures Virtual Appliance A bycross-configuring Software Bundle A to work with Software Bundle B, asindicated by the arrows 220, 222. Examples of cross-configurationoperations that can be performed by a connector include installingsoftware components/products on each virtual appliance, executing a setof configuration operations on each virtual appliance, propagatingvalues to be used for configuration or installation operations,configuring firewall rules, configuring reset operations (i.e., theclean-up log files or sensitive information), and the like.

FIG. 3 shows a more detailed view of a connector 302. In particular,FIG. 3 shows a connector 302 coupling a first virtual appliance 304 witha second virtual appliance 306 for cross-configuring a Web ApplicationSoftware Bundle 308 on the first virtual appliance 304 with a DatabaseSoftware Bundle 312 on the second virtual appliance 306. In thisexample, the first virtual appliance 304 comprises a first virtual image305 comprising the Web Application Software Bundle 308 and anApplication Server Software Bundle 310. The second virtual appliance 306comprises a second virtual image 307 comprising the database softwarebundle 312. Each of these bundles 308, 310, 312 installs their ownrespective software. For example, the Web Application Software Bundle308 installs a web application on the first virtual appliance 304. Theconnector 302 of FIG. 3 defines the cross-configuration logic for theweb application 308 running on the Application Server 310 of the firstvirtual appliance 304, which requires the Database 312 running on thesecond virtual appliance 306. The connector 302, in this example,installs a database driver on the first virtual appliance 304 and isexpressed as a capability in the connector 302.

As part of the cross-configuration logic, in this example, the connector302 creates the appropriate data source configuration for the WebApplication 308. For example, the connector 302 installs the databasedriver on the Application Server 310 and creates a special property filethat instructs the Web Application 308 to use the Database 312 on thesecond virtual appliance 306. The connector 302 also propagates thehostname and port of the Database 312 to the Application Server 310.With respect to the database 312, the connector 302 creates the Database312 and populates the database 312 with the database schema and initialdata. It should be noted that these are only examples of configurationoperations performed by the connector 302.

FIG. 3 shows that the connector 302 comprises at least two endpointdefinitions 328, 330 (also referred to herein as “configurationdefinitions”), which are logical constructs that group requirements,capabilities, installation and configuration operations, and artifactssuch as software binaries, scripts, etc. An endpoint is a system 114,116 that satisfies the requirements of an endpoint definition(s) and canbe coupled to the connector 302 based on that endpoint(s). The searchingmodule 126 utilizes the requirements of an endpoint definition 328, 330,to identify a system 116, 118 that can be coupled to the connector 302for cross-configuration, as will be discussed in greater detail below. Asystem 116, 118 can only be coupled to a connector 302 if it satisfiesall requirements of at least one of the endpoint definition of theconnector 302.

The requirements 332, 334 associated with an endpoint definition 328,330 comprise one or more of software bundle requirements, softwareproduct requirements, operating system (OS) requirements, and hardwarerequirements. Software bundle requirements express requirements on zeroor more software bundles that need to be present on a system 116, 118that is being coupled to the connector 302. Software bundle requirementscomprise a universal identifier associated with each required bundle.The universal identifier includes a name and a version of a givensoftware bundle. The universal identifier ensures that a software bundlecan be referenced in a unique way across different bundle repositories.An example of universal identifier for a software bundle iscom.mysql.mysql-server_(—)1.0.0, which universally and uniquelyidentifies a MySQL bundle with version 1.0.0. The specification ofsoftware bundle requirements can use different constraints to restrictthe version of the bundle such as, but not limited to, version rangeconstraints, constraints specifying a lower or upper bound of a specificversion, or regular expressions of versions.

Software product requirements express requirements on zero or moresoftware products that are present on a system to be coupled to theconnector. One example of a software product requirement is “SoftwareProduct A v5+”, which indicates that Software Product A with version 5or higher needs to be present on a system 116, 118 being coupled to theconnector 302. Operating system requirements express requirements on theoperating system for a system 116, 118. This requirement is importantbecause a connector 302 may install software that can only run on aspecific platform (such as Linux RHEL v5+). Although software bundlesalso express requirements on the OS, these bundles might be written tosupport a variety of operating systems. By including OS requirements ineach endpoint definition of the connector, the operating systems can berestricted to what is supported by the connector 302, installationscripts, and or configurations scripts.

Hardware requirements express requirements on a system to be coupled tothe connector. One example is a requirement on the system processorspeed indicating the minimum speed of the processor unit. Other examplesare RAM size, available disk space, or speed of the network interfacecard (NIC). For example, a connector may install a software product thatrequires at least 4 GB or hard disk space to successfully operate.

Capabilities 336, 338 formally describe the software that is installedby the connector 302 on a particular system 116, 118 that matches theendpoint definition requirements 332, 334. Capabilities 336, 338 areincluded within an endpoint 328, 330 if the connector 302 requiresadditional software to be installed for configuring softwarecomponents/products on a connected system 116, 118. This softwareconstitutes a capability that will be installed on the system thatsatisfies the given endpoint definition's s requirements. Capabilities336, 338 are identified by product identifier, a version, and a vendorname. It should be noted that in some instances a system 116, 118coupled to the connector 302 may already include the software identifiedin a capability 336, 338. In this situation the software identified bythe capability 336, 338 does not need to be installed on the system 116,118.

For example, the requirements 332 of the first endpoint definition 328can be the Application Software Bundle 310, Operating System A (e.g.,Linux), and Hardware Requirement A (e.g., Intel Server) while acapability 336 can be the Web Application Software Bundle 308. In thisexample, the first virtual appliance 304 comprises these softwarebundle, OS, and hardware requirements and, therefore, can be connectedto connector 302 at the first endpoint definition 332. In oneembodiment, if the first virtual appliance 304 does not already includethe Web Application Software Bundle 308, the connector 302 installs theWeb Application Software Bundle 308 on the respective image 305 of thefirst virtual appliance 304 using one or more artifacts 340 such assoftware binaries, installation scripts, etc. for the Web ApplicationSoftware Bundle 308. However, the connector 302 is not required toinstall this bundle 308. If the first virtual appliance 304 alreadycomprises the Web Application Software Bundle 308 it does not need to bereinstalled unless the capability identifies a given version not presenton the first virtual appliance 304.

FIG. 3 further shows that each endpoint definition 328, 330 definesartifacts 340, 342 and operations 344, 346. Artifacts 340, 342 representcontent that can be locally copied into the system 116, 118, remotelyexecutable content, as well as metadata and documentation content.Locally copied content can include scripts, installers, archives, andconfiguration files. Remotely copied content can include workflows.Connector artifacts 340, 342 are associated with a source location whichcan be local to the connector 302. In this embodiment, the file contentsare packaged with the connector metadata, or reference a remotelyaccessible resource, such a pointer to the latest build of anapplication. Connector artifacts 340, 342 can also be associated with atarget location, which can be dynamically updated based on the system116, 118 that has connected to the connector 302. When the targetlocation is specified, adding the bundle to a system 116, 118 results inthe artifact's contents being copied. In addition to artifacts such assoftware binaries, scripts, etc. required in the above lifecycle phases,additional artifacts such as licenses, ownership, permissions,documentation, etc. associated with the new copy can also be specified.Artifacts are referenced from connector metadata model elements and,thus, semantic information can be inferred about their function.

With respect to operations 344, 346, an operation providesimplementations of the logic that should be executed at specificlife-cycle phases of the connector. In particular, operations caninclude logic to install software on a system 116, 118 and logic toconfigure the software. Operations are ordered and can be associatedwith parameters. Operation parameters can be associated with a name,label, description, a set of default values, or other items. Operationscan further be assigned to execute in a specific stage of the connectorlife-cycle, which phases are used to model different lifecycles of theconnector 302. Examples of connector lifecycle phases are aConnector_Install phase and Connector_Config phase. These phases arerespectively used by the underlying execution environment of a system116, 118 to install software on deployment and configure the installedsoftware upon activation time. The Connector_Install phase defines howsoftware is installed on the system 116, 118 matching a correspondingendpoint definition 328, 330 of the connector at deployment time. Thedeployment time is the time when a connector is instantiated (i.e., itslife-cycle phases are executed) as part of a virtual system patternsexecution. In one embodiment, the installation phase has at least oneuser defined script and zero or more parameters. The user definedscript(s) is the entry point of the installation and performs allrequired steps to complete the installation of software (capabilities)on the endpoint. A connector 302 comprises a Connector_Install lifecyclephase for each endpoint definition 328, 330.

The Connector_Config phase defines how software is configured after theConnector_Install phase. An endpoint definition 328, 330 can includezero or more configuration operations 344, 346. Each operation 344, 346defines at least one configuration script and a number of artifacts thatit might need. A configuration script includes zero or moreconfiguration parameters. The parameters to a script are either input oroutput parameters. The values of an input parameter can be user suppliedand/or propagated from another parameter in a connected endpoint, theother connected endpoint, and/or a software bundle that is specified inthe requirements 332, 334 of the endpoint definitions 328, 330 in theconnector 302. Output parameters are produced by the script. The valueof an output parameter can be propagated to any other parameter in thesame connected endpoint, the other connected endpoint, and/or a softwarebundle that is specified in the requirements 332, 334 of the endpointdefinitions in the connector 302. Additionally, parameter propagationsbetween software bundles can be expressed as well. This allows aparameter to be passed from one software bundle to other softwarebundles, irrespective of whether they reside on the same system 116 ordifferent systems 116, 118. This avoids a configuration operation beingdefined just to read the source parameter and assigning it to the targetparameter.

As discussed above, the connector 302 can install additional software orconfigure software. Therefore, in some situations various ports such asa firewall port may need to be opened in the underlying executionenvironment to allow the cross-configured software to function properly(such as a cloud infrastructure that closes most of the ports bydefault). Therefore, the connector 302 can comprise a configurationoperation that opens needed ports and also propagates port informationto one or more software bundles.

The components of the endpoint definitions 328, 330 of a connector arecaptured by the design/creation tool 124 using semantically richmetadata. For example, the design/creation tool 124 defines thestructure of a connector in a semantic model (describing the what). Thelifecycle operations are defined in a functional model (describing thehow). In particular, the semantic topology/model of the connectordescribes both endpoints and, therefore, comprises two server units, twooperating systems, and the software (capabilities) that is beinginstalled as SoftwareInstall units. Consider a connector 112 that isbeing built for cross-configuring two software bundles, Software BundleA (a web application) and Software Bundle C (a database). Thetopologies/models (both semantic and functional) for each of thesebundles are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 represents the SoftwareBundle A topology and FIG. 5 represents the Software Bundle C topology,with the semantic model 402, 502 on top (linked to the operationGroup)of the functional model 404, 504. The semantic model 402 for theSoftware Bundle A endpoint has two software products, Software Bundle A406 and Software Bundle B 408 (an application server). In this example,Software Bundle A is a capability (solid line), whereas Software BundleB is a requirement (dashed line). The semantic model 402 of FIG. 4further shows that the OS 1 410 (e.g., Linux) and Server 1 412 (e.g.,Intel Server) units are requirements as well. Therefore, for a system116, 118 to be connected to the connector 112 based on the endpointrepresented by the semantic model 402 of FIG. 4 the system 116, 118needs to have the Software Bundle B, OS 1, and Server 1 units installedthereon. The functional model 404 of Software Bundle A has anoperationGroup 414 comprising only one install operation 416, which isan installation script that installs Software Bundle A. TheoperationGroup 414 comprises a configuration operation 417, whichconfigures Software Bundle A. For example, Software Bundle A receivesdatabase host port information, db username and password information,etc. form Software Bundle C.

The semantic model 502 shown in FIG. 5 for the Software Bundle Cendpoint has one software product 506, Software Bundle C, which is acapability (solid line), and two requirements 510, 512, the OS 1 andServer 1 units. The Software Bundle C endpoint does not require anyother software bundle. Therefore, for a system 116, 118 to be connectedto the connector 112 based on the Software Bundle C endpoint the system116, 118 needs to have the OS 1 and the Server 1 units installedthereon. The functional model 504 of the Software Bundle C endpoint hasan operationGroup 514 comprising only one install operation 516, whichis an installation script for installing the Software Bundle C. TheoperationGroup 514 comprises one configuration operation 518, which is aconfiguration script that configures Software Bundle A to work withSoftware Bundle C. For example, the configuration script creates aspecial configuration file that instructs the Software Bundle A webapplication to use the Software Bundle C database on its respectivesystem. The configuration operation 518 also propagates Software BundleC database host port information, db username and password information,etc. to the Software Bundle A web application installed on itsrespective system.

FIG. 6 shows the resulting semantic topology/model 602 for the SoftwareBundle A-Software Bundle C connector discussed above. The semantictopology/model 602 comprises two parts 601, 603, each representing oneendpoint capable of being coupled to the connector forcross-configuration. The topology/model 602 comprises server units 612,613, each having their OS unit, 610, 611. On top of the OS 610, 611,each part has software 606, 607, 608 that it requires to be present onthe systems 116, 118 being connected to the connector. It should benoted that each of the SoftwareInstall units is marked as conceptual(dashed lines) in FIG. 6 because it has to be realized when matchingagain an image. Essentially, the connector semantic topology is theunion of the bundle topologies that it connects in addition to turningall non-conceptual unit as conceptual.

FIG. 7 shows the resulting functional topology/model 702 for theSoftware Bundle A-Software Bundle C connector with the topologies/modelsof FIGS. 4-6 to illustrate the links there between. The functionaltopology 702 of the connector 112 describes all the cross-configurationoperations of the connector 112. In particular, the functional topologyof FIG. 7 shows all the configuration operations that need to beexecuted to cross-configure Software Bundle A to work with SoftwareBundle C. The functional topology 702 describes what configurationoperations need to be executed to install the software that is describedin the semantic topology 602. This also involves parameter propagationsbetween the configuration operations (the dash-dot lines in FIG. 7). Forexample, FIG. 7 shows operations such as createDB 704 and defineTables706 on the Software Bundle C endpoint. Each of these operations isassociated with an operationGroup 708, 710. FIG. 7 also shows operationssuch as defineProvider 718 and defineDS 720 on the Software Bundle Aendpoint. Each of these operations is associated with an opeationGroup712, 714. To realize parameter propagations between differentconfiguration operations, the functional topology/model 702 includesevery runOperation unit from a bundle or connector operation as aconceptual unit in the topology, if it is the source or target of aparameter propagation. For example, the configSWBundleA operation 722 ofthe connector requires the DB hostname. These operations are defined inthe bundles that the connector requires. Therefore, theseoperationGroups 716, 717 and their units 722, 724 are represented in thefunctional topology and marked as conceptual (dashed boxes). Theseoperations can either be realized by the required bundles itself or anyother compatible bundle that provides the same set of configurationoperations and parameters.

As shown above, a connector provides the ability to connect two or moresoftware components/products on a system(s) for cross-configurationpurposes. Connectors use the notation of an endpoint definition todefine where (on which system) specific configuration steps are to beexecuted. Generally, a connector can comprise software and configurationscripts, define requirements and capabilities, and install otherartifacts that are specific to one endpoint definition. Connectors aredecoupled from specific software components that are installed onvirtual appliance to allow a better reusability. Connectors onlyencapsulate configuration logic that is specific for cross-configuringtwo separate software bundles. Connectors are not dependent on thesystem itself because requirements for an endpoint are defined on abundle and product level only. Connectors can be used independentlywhether the bundles are placed on the same or different virtual image.

Creating a Cross-Configuration Connector

The following provides an illustrative example of creating a connector112. As the user interacts with the connector design/creation tool 124various windows are displayed to the user via the user interface 120. Itshould be noted that although FIGS. 8-12 show a graphical user interface(GUI) for entering information, other forms of entering information suchas (but not limited to) command lines are applicable as well. FIG. 8shows a window 802 that allows that user to enter general properties fora new connector. In this example, the user is creating a connector thatconfigures a Petclinic web application on a first system to work withthe MySQL database on a second (or the same) system. This connectorinstalls the MySQL driver JAR on a Tomcat application server of thefirst system and also creates a special property file that instructs thePetclinic web application to use the MySQL database on the secondsystem. This connector also propagates the host port information,database (DB) username, and password information of the MySQL databaseto the Petclinic web application.

FIG. 8 shows that the design/creation tool 124 provides a connector namefield 804 for entering a connector name, a universal ID field 806 forentering a universal ID, a version field 808 for entering versioninformation, an endpoint name fields 810, 812 for entering names foreach of the endpoints to be defined for the connector, and a descriptionfield for entering a description of the connector. The universal IDinformation uniquely identifies a connector and is used (along with theversion information) to reference a connector in a virtual systempattern, which is discussed in greater detail below. The endpoint namesare used to identify endpoints associated with a connector and tosupport parameter propagation between the endpoint parameters.

In FIG. 9, the user begins to create an endpoint definition by definingone or more of the requirements discussed above with respect to FIG. 3.In particular, the user is defining requirements for the Petclinicendpoint of the connector. FIG. 9 shows that the user has defined twosoftware bundle requirements and one operating system requirement. Forexample, FIG. 9 shows that the user has defined two software bundlerequirements 904, 906 within a software bundle requirement section 908of the window 902. The first software bundle requirement 904 is for theTomcat 7 application server and the second software bundle requirement906 is for the Petclinic web application. FIG. 9 also shows that theuser has entered universal IDs, version information, and labels (names)for each software bundle requirements 904, 906 within their respectivefields 910, 912, 914. The user has also defined one operating systemrequirement 916 (Linux OS) within the OS requirement section 918 alongwith type information, distribution information, minimum versioninformation, and maximum version information within their respectivefields 920, 922, 924 if applicable. A software prerequisite section 919allows the user to enter requirements on a particular on a particularsoftware product that has to be present on the system. Prerequisites canbe a specific bundle (with a specific universal id+version, a particularproduct that is provided as a capability of a bundle, etc. Informationsuch as bundle ID, minimum version information, and maximum versioninformation can be entered within their respective fields 926, 928, 930,if applicable. It should be noted that hardware requirements can also besimilarly entered. It should also be noted that capabilities can beimplicitly defined by specifying a product that the endpoint installs(this is the capability) under one or more tabs in the user interface.

FIG. 10 shows one example of a user entering endpoint definitionrequirements for the MySQL endpoint similar to that discussed above withrespect to FIG. 9. For example, the user has defined one software bundlerequirement 1004 and one operating system requirement 1016 within thesoftware bundle requirement section 1008 of the window 1002. Forexample, FIG. 10 shows that the software bundle requirement 1008 is forthe MySQL database software bundle. Stated differently, there is arequirement on the software bundle that provides the MySQL softwareproduct as a capability on a system 114, 116. The connector requiresthis bundle to be present on a system 114, 116 that is being coupled tothe connector. The universal ID, version information, and label (name)of the software bundle requirement is also provided by the user similarto that discussed above with respect to FIG. 9. The user has alsodefined one operating system requirement 1018 (Linux OS) within the OSrequirement section 1019 along with type information, distributioninformation, minimum version information, and maximum versioninformation within their respective fields.

On the Petclinic endpoint there are two tasks. The first task is toinstall the MySQL connector JAR file and the second task is to perform aconfiguration operation that creates the jdbc.properties file in thePetclinic application that is deployed on the Tomcat application server.Therefore, the user needs to define installation and configurationoperations/scripts for the Petclinic endpoint. Specifying installationand configuration operations/scripts on endpoints means thatconfiguration is performed on each of endpoint at deployment time. It isalso possible that only one endpoint needs configuration whereas theother endpoint does not. Each installation and configuration script canhave 0 . . . * parameters that need to be specified and defined by theconnector creator. These parameters can either be queried from the userupon deployment or they can be mapped from a parameter of a bundle onone of connected systems or a depending connector configurationoperation. This is defined as a parameter propagation rule that isresolved at deployment time.

FIG. 11 shows one example of the user defining an install operation forthe Petclinic endpoint to install the JDBC driver using an “Install”window 1102 provided by the design/creation tool 124. FIG. 11 shows anoperation field 1104 that allows the user to enter a name for the givenoperation. In this example, the user has entered “Install_JDBCDriver” inthis field 1104. In another section 1106 the user is able to entervarious files that are to be copied to the system connecting to thePetclinic endpoint of the connector. The user is able to provide thesource (URI or file name) 1108, the destination folder 1110, andinformation 1112 as to whether or not the corresponding file is anexecutable file. For example, FIG. 11 shows that the user has identifiedtwo files 1114, 1116 (mysql-connector-java-5.0.8-bin.jar andinstall-driver-sh) that should be copied to the ${ACTIVATION_DIR}directory of the connected system. The user can also provide a runcommand 1118 and how the file should be run (e.g., root) for anyexecutable file in a command section 1120 of the window 1102. Anarguments section 1122 allows the user to specify 0 . . . * parametersfor an installation and configuration script. In this example, thescript ‘install-driver.sh’ has one parameter INSTALL_LOCATION on thesystem. Parameter values are either specified in this dialog as defaultvalues, upon deployment by the user or by defining a parameterpropagation rule from another parameter to this specific parameter.

As discussed above, the Petclinic Application also has a configurationtask, which creates the jdbc.properties file in the Petclinicapplication that is deployed on the Tomcat application server. Thisconfiguration operation is defined by the user via a “Configuration”window (not shown) of the design/creation tool 124. The process fordefining a configuration operation is similar to the process fordefining an install operation, as discussed above with respect to FIG.11. If a configuration operation to be performed on a first connectedsystem requires values/parameters (e.g. hostname of the MySQL database)from a second connected system (or the first system), the user is ableto define arguments to the configuration operation script and define itssource using the design/creation tool 124.

For example, FIG. 12 shows a window 1202 in which the user can definethe input parameter to the configuration script and its type. Forexample, FIG. 12 shows a parameter type field 1204 in which the user hasselected “Input” as the type and has also entered the name of therequired parameter “dbhostname” in another field 1206. The user thendefines the source where the dbhostname parameter is to get its valuefrom under a Source section 1208 of the window. For example, in thisexample, the “hostname” parameter of the ConfigIcon operation has thehostname and runtime required by the configuration operation defined forthe Petclinic endpoint.

Similar operations can be performed for defining/specifying installationand configuration operations for the MySQL endpoint. However, in thisexample, the MySQL endpoint does not require installation orconfiguration operations. It should be noted that for each endpointdefinition representing an endpoint (e.g., a system that is capable ofconnecting to the connector), optional firewall rules can be specifiedusing the design/creation tool. Firewall rules may be necessary becausethe cross-configuration might require a specific port to be open. Forexample, a database that is accessed from another host needs to have theport open, which is generally not the case when accessing it from thelocal machine via a named pipe). At deployment time, the portsidentified in a firewall rule are opened on the underlying system thatmatches the corresponding endpoint definition. Licenses can also bespecified for a connector to ensure that the user accepts them atdeployment time. This may be necessary because a connector can installadditional software as part of the installation phase.

Once the user has finished entering the information shown in FIGS. 8-12,the design/creation tool 124 captures the entered information assemantic and functional models as discussed above with respect to FIGS.4-7 and stores these models within their respective connectors 112 inthe repository 130. Alternatively, these models can be stored separatefrom the connectors 112 within the same repository, differentrepository, or on the server 108.

Connector Matchmaking and Deployment

The cross-configuration connectors discussed above can be used indifferent contexts and environment. One use case for connectors is inthe modeling and deployment of complete application topologies (i.e.,virtual system patterns) using virtualization technologies. Theseapplication topologies can require complex cross-configuration forsuccessful provisioning. In one embodiment, these application topologiescan be modeled visually allowing a user to connect different pre-builtvirtual images (or appliances) by using a set of available connectors.FIG. 13 shows one example of a virtual system pattern 1302. Inparticular, FIG. 13 shows a virtual system pattern 1302 comprising aplurality of virtual images 1304, 1306, 1308 (and/or virtualappliances). Each virtual image 1304, 1306, 1308 comprises one or moresoftware bundles 1310, 312, 1314, 1316. The virtual system pattern 1302also comprises one or more connectors 1318, 1320 for cross-configuringtwo or more software bundles 1310, 312, 1314, 1316 within one or morevirtual images 1304, 1306, 1308.

When creating a virtual system pattern, the connector searching module126 identifies one or more connectors 112 from the connector repository130 that can connect two systems 116, 118 such as (but not limited to)virtual images and virtual appliances selected by the user. In anotherembodiment, the connector searching module 126 identifies one or moresystems 116, 118 that can be connected to a selected connector 112. Theconnector searching module 126 identifies systems 116, 118 that satisfythe requirements 332, 334 of the connector endpoint definitions, asdiscussed above. For example, the connector searching module 126determines the capabilities of the underlying virtual images (i.e., thesoftware bundles and their versions) and compares these capabilitiesagainst the requirements 332, 334 (bundle requirements, softwareproducts requirements, operating system requirements, and/or hardwarerequirements) of the connectors 112. When a successful match isidentified, the given connector(s) 112 are displayed to a user via theuser interface 120, 122. A selection is received from the user of ormore of the matching connectors 112. The software entities (e.g.,components such as software bundles 114) identified by each of theselected connectors 112 are then automatically cross-configured by theselected connectors 112.

The following provides a more detailed example on deploying a connector112. When a successful match is identified by the searching module 126,the given connector 112 can be used to connect the systems 116, 118.After determining what connectors 112 are useable, a deploymentcomponent can initiate the deployment of a connector 112. Deployment ofa connector 112 comprises the installation of the necessary softwareartifacts (if present) on the connected system(s) (e.g., the virtualimage(s) determined in the matchmaking phase). Deployment also comprisesthe generation of the necessary activation scripts to invoke theconnector configuration scripts. The generation of activation artifactsis specific to underlying activation mechanism supported by the targetvirtualization environment.

Two different modes of deployment can be used, Deployment using Captureand On-demand Deployment. In the Deployment using Capture mode, aconnector 112 is deployed on the systems 116, 118 when these systems arebuilt by a system builder (e.g., a virtual image builder). The connectorartifacts 340, 342 are installed and configured on the correspondingsystems that match the endpoint definition requirements 332, 334. Incase of a connector 112 with two images, these can be either on the samevirtual image or on two separate images. The connector installationartifacts (software+scripts) are installed before the image is capturedand the necessary activation scripts are generated to invoke theconnector configuration scripts. This allows correct activation of theconnector configuration upon deployment of the virtual image. After theinstallation, the systems 116, 118 can be captured by using theunderlying capture mechanism of the target virtualization environment.Connectors 112 can also have deployment parameters that allow user toconfigure certain software components. The target virtualizationenvironment should provide appropriate support for querying thoseparameters from the user and also pass those parameters to theunderlying activation mechanism of the systems. In addition, connectors112 may enforce a specific startup order that needs to be enforced bythe virtualization environment to enable proper activation.

With respect to the On-demand Deployment mode, capturing the systems isnot required. Connector artifacts 340, 342 are transferred to thesystems 116, 118 to enable installation and configuration uponactivation time. This involves the execution of the installation as wellas the configuration scripts upon activation of the systems. Thus,activation artifacts are generated for the installation andconfiguration scripts and the correct order of execution is ensured.Similar to the Deployment using Capture mode, connector deploymentparameters may need to be supported and a specific startup order mayneed to be enforced.

FIG. 14 is an operational flow diagram illustrating one example ofcreating a connector 112 (cross-configuration software module). Theoperational flow begins at step 1402 and flows directly to step 1404.The connector design/creation tool 124, at step 1404, receives aselection of two or more software entities 114 (e.g., softwarecomponents, products, bundles, etc.) that are to be cross-configured ina virtual pattern system. The connector design/creation tool 124, atstep 1406, receives a definition of a connector 112 comprising a set ofproperties that uniquely identify the connector 112. The two or moresoftware entities 114, at step 1408, are grouped into two or more setsof software entities that must be collocated. The connectordesign/creation tool 124, at step 1410, creates a configurationdefinition for each of the two or more sets of software entities thatmust be collocated. The connector design/creation tool 124, at step1412, receives an ordering among installation and configuration scripts.The connector design/creation tool 124, at step 1414, persists each ofthe connector definitions in a cross-configuration software modulecomprising, for example, a semantic and functional topology 602, 702.The control flow then exits at step 1416.

FIG. 15 is an operational flow diagram illustrating one example ofcreating a configuration definition. The operational flow begins at step1502 and flows directly to step 1504. The connector design/creation tool124, at step 1504, obtains a first set of requirements and at least asecond set of requirements. Each of the first and second set ofrequirements identify at least one of a set of software entities and aset of hardware components required to be present on at least one system116, 118 comprising software entities to be cross-configured.Requirements can also include operating system requirements as well.

The connector design/creation tool 124, at step 1506, obtains at leastone set of configuration operations. The at least one set ofconfiguration operations comprises at least one executableinstruction/script that configures at least a first software entity withat least a second software entity. It should be noted that installationoperations comprising at least executable instruction/script can also beobtained. Also, each script can take a set of parameters. The scriptcommand, parameter style, executing user, artifacts that a scriptrequires, and dependencies between scripts and parameters can also beobtained as well.

The connector design/creation tool 124, at step 1508, generates a firstconfiguration definition comprising at least the first set ofrequirements and the at least one set of configuration operations, and asecond configuration definition comprising at least the second set ofrequirements. In addition, each of the configuration definitions canalso include/identify software products that each definition installs,firewall rules, and license agreements. The connector design/creationtool 124, at step 1510, stores the first and second configurationdefinitions within a cross-configuration software module, wherein thesoftware configuration module is usable by systems 116, 118 satisfyingthe set of requirements in the first and second configurationdefinitions for cross-configuring software entities. The control flowthen exits at step 1512.

FIG. 16 is an operational flow diagram illustrating one example ofdeploying/using a connector. The operational flow begins at step 1602and flows directly to step 1604. The connector searching module 126, atstep 1604, receives a selection from a user of one or more systems 116,118 comprising a set software entities 114 to be cross-configured. Theconnector searching module 126, at step 1606, identifies a set ofconnectors 112 that can be applied to the set of software entities 114.The connector searching module 126, at step 1608, receives a selectionfrom the user of at least one of the connectors 112 that has beenidentified. It should be noted that, in one embodiment, the searchingmodule 126 can automatically select one or more connectors 112 withoutuser intervention. The VSP design/creation tool 128, at step 1610,obtains installation and configuration parameter values of theconnectors and the one or more systems 116, 118. The VSP design/creationtool 128, at step 1612, optionally persists the design, which includesthe selected connector 112, the parameter values, and the system'ssoftware entities 114, as a reusable pattern. The VSP design/creationtool 128, at step 1614, deploys the pattern. The control flow then exitsat step 1616.

FIG. 17 is an operational flow diagram illustrating one example ofdeploying/using a connector at step 1614 of FIG. 16. The operationalflow begins at step 1702 and flows directly to step 1704. The VSPdesign/creation tool 128, at step 1704, obtains installation andconfiguration values for all required parameters of the selectedconnectors 114 and systems 116, 118. The VSP design/creation tool 128,at step 1706, deploys each of the selected system for each selectedconnector 112. The VSP design/creation tool 128, at step 1708, transfersthe artifacts of each configuration definition to the systems associatedwith the definition. The scripts of each connector 112, at step 1710,are executed with the specified parameters in the order defined by theconnector 112. The control flow then exits at step 1712.

Cloud Environment

It is understood in advance that although the following is a detaileddiscussion on cloud computing, implementation of the teachings recitedherein are not limited to a cloud computing environment. Rather, variousembodiments of the present invention are capable of being implemented inconjunction with any other type of computing environment now known orlater developed. For example, various embodiments of the presentinvention are applicable to any computing environment with a virtualizedinfrastructure or any other type of computing environment.

For convenience, the Detailed Description includes the followingdefinitions which have been derived from the “Draft NIST WorkingDefinition of Cloud Computing” by Peter Mell and Tim Grance, dated Oct.7, 2009, which is cited in an IDS filed herewith, and a copy of which isattached thereto. However, it should be noted that cloud computingenvironments that are applicable to one or more embodiments of thepresent invention are not required to correspond to the followingdefinitions and characteristics given below or in the “Draft NISTWorking Definition of Cloud Computing” publication. It should also benoted that the following definitions, characteristics, and discussionsof cloud computing are given as non-limiting examples.

Cloud computing is a model of service delivery for enabling convenient,on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computingresources (e.g. networks, network bandwidth, servers, processing,memory, storage, applications, virtual machines, and services) that canbe rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort orinteraction with a provider of the service. This cloud model may includeat least five characteristics, at least three service models, and atleast four deployment models.

Characteristics are as follows:

On-demand self-service: a cloud consumer can unilaterally provisioncomputing capabilities, such as server time and network storage, asneeded automatically without requiring human interaction with theservice's provider.

Broad network access: capabilities are available over a network andaccessed through standard mechanisms that promote use by heterogeneousthin or thick client platforms (e.g., mobile phones, laptops, and PDAs).

Resource pooling: the provider's computing resources are pooled to servemultiple consumers using a multi-tenant model, with different physicaland virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned according todemand. There is a sense of location independence in that the consumergenerally has no control or knowledge over the exact location of theprovided resources but may be able to specify location at a higher levelof abstraction (e.g., country, state, or datacenter).

Rapid elasticity: capabilities can be rapidly and elasticallyprovisioned, in some cases automatically, to quickly scale out andrapidly released to quickly scale in. To the consumer, the capabilitiesavailable for provisioning often appear to be unlimited and can bepurchased in any quantity at any time.

Measured service: cloud systems automatically control and optimizeresource use by leveraging a metering capability at some level ofabstraction appropriate to the type of service (e.g., storage,processing, bandwidth, and active user accounts). Resource usage can bemonitored, controlled, and reported providing transparency for both theprovider and consumer of the utilized service.

Service Models are as follows:

Software as a Service (SaaS): the capability provided to the consumer isto use the provider's applications running on a cloud infrastructure.The applications are accessible from various client devices through athin client interface such as a web browser (e.g., web-based e-mail).The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloudinfrastructure including network, servers, operating systems, storage,or even individual application capabilities, with the possible exceptionof limited user-specific application configuration settings.

Platform as a Service (PaaS): the capability provided to the consumer isto deploy onto the cloud infrastructure consumer-created or acquiredapplications created using programming languages and tools supported bythe provider. The consumer does not manage or control the underlyingcloud infrastructure including networks, servers, operating systems, orstorage, but has control over the deployed applications and possiblyapplication hosting environment configurations.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): the capability provided to theconsumer is to provision processing, storage, networks, and otherfundamental computing resources where the consumer is able to deploy andrun arbitrary software, which can include operating systems andapplications. The consumer does not manage or control the underlyingcloud infrastructure but has control over operating systems, storage,deployed applications, and possibly limited control of select networkingcomponents (e.g., host firewalls).

Deployment Models are as follows:

Private cloud: the cloud infrastructure is operated solely for anorganization. It may be managed by the organization or a third party andmay exist on-premises or off-premises.

Community cloud: the cloud infrastructure is shared by severalorganizations and supports a specific community that has shared concerns(e.g., mission, security requirements, policy, and complianceconsiderations). It may be managed by the organizations or by a thirdparty, and may exist on-premises or off-premises.

Public cloud: the cloud infrastructure is made available to the generalpublic or a large industry group and is owned by an organization sellingcloud services.

Hybrid cloud: the cloud infrastructure is a composition of two or moreclouds (private, community, or public) that remain unique entities butare bound together by standardized or proprietary technology thatenables data and application portability (e.g., cloud bursting forload-balancing between clouds).

A cloud computing environment is service oriented with a focus onstatelessness, low coupling, modularity, and semantic interoperability.At the heart of cloud computing is an infrastructure comprising anetwork of interconnected nodes.

Referring now to FIG. 18, a schematic of an example of a cloud computingnode is shown. Cloud computing node 1800 is only one example of asuitable cloud computing node and is not intended to suggest anylimitation as to the scope of use or functionality of embodiments of theinvention described herein. Regardless, cloud computing node 1800 iscapable of being implemented and/or performing any of the functionalityset forth hereinabove.

In cloud computing node 1800 there is a computer system/server 1802,which is operational with numerous other general purpose or specialpurpose computing system environments or configurations. Examples ofwell-known computing systems, environments, and/or configurations thatmay be suitable for use with computer system/server 1802 include, butare not limited to, personal computer systems, server computer systems,thin clients, thick clients, hand-held or laptop devices, multiprocessorsystems, microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmableconsumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputer systems, mainframecomputer systems, and distributed cloud computing environments thatinclude any of the above systems or devices, and the like.

Computer system/server 1802 may be described in the general context ofcomputer system-executable instructions, such as program modules, beingexecuted by a computer system. Generally, program modules may includeroutines, programs, objects, components, logic, data structures, and soon that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract datatypes. Computer system/server 1802 may be practiced in distributed cloudcomputing environments where tasks are performed by remote processingdevices that are linked through a communications network. In adistributed cloud computing environment, program modules may be locatedin both local and remote computer system storage media including memorystorage devices.

As shown in FIG. 18, computer system/server 1802 in cloud computing node1800 is shown in the form of a general-purpose computing device. Thecomponents of computer system/server 1802 may include, but are notlimited to, one or more processors or processing units 1804, a systemmemory 1806, and a bus 1808 that couples various system componentsincluding system memory 1806 to processor 1804.

Bus 1808 represents one or more of any of several types of busstructures, including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheralbus, an accelerated graphics port, and a processor or local bus usingany of a variety of bus architectures. By way of example, and notlimitation, such architectures include Industry Standard Architecture(ISA) bus, Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA)bus, Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, andPeripheral Component Interconnects (PCI) bus.

Computer system/server 1802 typically includes a variety of computersystem readable media. Such media may be any available media that isaccessible by computer system/server 1002, and it includes both volatileand non-volatile media, removable and non-removable media.

System memory 1806, in one embodiment, comprises the interactiveenvironment 110 (e.g., the connector/pattern design and creationenvironment) and its components as shown in FIG. 1. These one or morecomponents of the interactive environment 110 can also be implemented inhardware as well. The system memory 1806 can include computer systemreadable media in the form of volatile memory, such as random accessmemory (RAM) 1810 and/or cache memory 1812. Computer system/server 1802may further include other removable/non-removable, volatile/non-volatilecomputer system storage media. By way of example only, storage system1814 can be provided for reading from and writing to a non-removable,non-volatile magnetic media (not shown and typically called a “harddrive”). Although not shown, a magnetic disk drive for reading from andwriting to a removable, non-volatile magnetic disk (e.g., a “floppydisk”), and an optical disk drive for reading from or writing to aremovable, non-volatile optical disk such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or otheroptical media can be provided. In such instances, each can be connectedto bus 1808 by one or more data media interfaces. As will be furtherdepicted and described below, memory 1806 may include at least oneprogram product having a set (e.g., at least one) of program modulesthat are configured to carry out the functions of various embodiments ofthe invention.

Program/utility 1816, having a set (at least one) of program modules1818, may be stored in memory 1806 by way of example, and notlimitation, as well as an operating system, one or more applicationprograms, other program modules, and program data. Each of the operatingsystem, one or more application programs, other program modules, andprogram data or some combination thereof, may include an implementationof a networking environment. Program modules 1818 generally carry outthe functions and/or methodologies of various embodiments of theinvention as described herein.

Computer system/server 1802 may also communicate with one or moreexternal devices 1020 such as a keyboard, a pointing device, a display1822, etc.; one or more devices that enable a user to interact withcomputer system/server 1802; and/or any devices (e.g., network card,modem, etc.) that enable computer system/server 1802 to communicate withone or more other computing devices. Such communication can occur viaI/O interfaces 1824. Still yet, computer system/server 1002 cancommunicate with one or more networks such as a local area network(LAN), a general wide area network (WAN), and/or a public network (e.g.,the Internet) via network adapter 1826. As depicted, network adapter1826 communicates with the other components of computer system/server1802 via bus 1808. It should be understood that although not shown,other hardware and/or software components could be used in conjunctionwith computer system/server 1802. Examples, include, but are not limitedto: microcode, device drivers, redundant processing units, external diskdrive arrays, RAID systems, tape drives, and data archival storagesystems, etc.

Referring now to FIG. 19, illustrative cloud computing environment 1902is depicted. As shown, cloud computing environment 1902 comprises one ormore cloud computing nodes 1000 with which local computing devices usedby cloud consumers, such as, for example, personal digital assistant(PDA) or cellular telephone 1904, desktop computer 1906, laptop computer1908, and/or automobile computer system 1910 may communicate. Nodes 1000may communicate with one another. They may be grouped (not shown)physically or virtually, in one or more networks, such as Private,Community, Public, or Hybrid clouds as described hereinabove, or acombination thereof. This allows cloud computing environment 1902 tooffer infrastructure, platforms and/or software as services for which acloud consumer does not need to maintain resources on a local computingdevice. It is understood that the types of computing devices 1904, 1906,1908, 1910 shown in FIG. 19 are intended to be illustrative only andthat computing nodes 1800 and cloud computing environment 1902 cancommunicate with any type of computerized device over any type ofnetwork and/or network addressable connection (e.g., using a webbrowser).

Referring now to FIG. 20, a set of functional abstraction layersprovided by cloud computing environment 1902 (FIG. 19) is shown. Itshould be understood in advance that the components, layers, andfunctions shown in FIG. 20 are intended to be illustrative only andembodiments of the invention are not limited thereto. As depicted, thefollowing layers and corresponding functions are provided:

Hardware and software layer 2002 includes hardware and softwarecomponents. Examples of hardware components include mainframes, in oneexample IBM® zSeries® systems; RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer)architecture based servers, in one example IBM pSeries® systems; IBMxSeries® systems; IBM BladeCenter® systems; storage devices; networksand networking components. Examples of software components includenetwork application server software, in one example IBM WebSphere®application server software; and database software, in one example IBMDB2® database software. (IBM, zSeries, pSeries, xSeries, BladeCenter,WebSphere, and DB2 are trademarks of International Business MachinesCorporation registered in many jurisdictions worldwide)

Virtualization layer 2004 provides an abstraction layer from which thefollowing examples of virtual entities may be provided: virtual servers;virtual storage; virtual networks, including virtual private networks;virtual applications and operating systems; and virtual clients.

In one example, management layer 2006 may provide the functionsdescribed below. Resource provisioning provides dynamic procurement ofcomputing resources and other resources that are utilized to performtasks within the cloud computing environment. Metering and Pricingprovide cost tracking as resources are utilized within the cloudcomputing environment, and billing or invoicing for consumption of theseresources. In one example, these resources may comprise applicationsoftware licenses. Security provides identity verification for cloudconsumers and tasks, as well as protection for data and other resources.User portal provides access to the cloud computing environment forconsumers and system administrators. Service level management providescloud computing resource allocation and management such that requiredservice levels are met. Service Level Agreement (SLA) planning andfulfillment provide pre-arrangement for, and procurement of, cloudcomputing resources for which a future requirement is anticipated inaccordance with an SLA.

Workloads layer 2008 provides examples of functionality for which thecloud computing environment may be utilized. Examples of workloads andfunctions which may be provided from this layer include: mapping andnavigation; software development and lifecycle management; virtualclassroom education delivery; data analytics processing; transactionprocessing; and composable software bundle and virtual image assetdesign and creation.

Non-Limiting Examples

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the presentinvention may be embodied as a system, method, or computer programproduct. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the formof an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment(including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or anembodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may allgenerally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.”Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of acomputer program product embodied in one or more computer readablemedium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon.

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may beutilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signalmedium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readablestorage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic,magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system,apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Morespecific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readablestorage medium would include the following: an electrical connectionhaving one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber,a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storagedevice, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storagemedium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a programfor use by or in connection with an instruction execution system,apparatus, or device.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. Acomputer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium thatis not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate,propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmittedusing any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless,wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination ofthe foregoing.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of thepresent invention may be written in any combination of one or moreprogramming languages, including an object oriented programming languagesuch as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional proceduralprogramming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similarprogramming languages. The program code may execute entirely on theuser's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alonesoftware package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remotecomputer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latterscenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computerthrough any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or awide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an externalcomputer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet ServiceProvider).

Aspects of the present invention have been discussed above withreference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods,apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block ofthe flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations ofblocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can beimplemented by computer program instructions. These computer programinstructions may be provided to a processor of a general purposecomputer, special purpose computer, or other programmable dataprocessing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions,which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmabledata processing apparatus, create means for implementing thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable dataprocessing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readablemedium produce an article of manufacture including instructions whichimplement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer,other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to causea series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, otherprogrammable apparatus or other devices to produce a computerimplemented process such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer or other programmable apparatus provide processes forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

The description of the present invention has been presented for purposesof illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications andvariations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Theembodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and the practical application, and to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of creating a cross-configurationsoftware module for cross-configuring software entities, the methodcomprising: obtaining a first set of requirements and at least a secondset of requirements, wherein each of the first and second set ofrequirements identify at least one set of software entities required tobe present on at least one system comprising software entities to becross-configured wherein the set of software entities identified by atleast one of the first set of requirements and the second set ofrequirements comprises at least one composable software bundle, whereina composable software bundle is a cloud independent description ofsoftware that captures a set of aspects needed to install and configurethe software in a virtual machine; obtaining at least one set ofoperations, wherein the at least one set of operations comprising atleast one executable instruction that configures at least a firstsoftware entity with at least a second software entity; generating afirst configuration definition comprising at least the first set ofrequirements and the at least one set of operations, and a secondconfiguration definition comprising at least the second set ofrequirements; and storing the first and second configuration definitionswithin a cross-configuration software module, wherein thecross-configuration software module is a self-contained software packageconfigured to automatically cross configure software entities, withinsystems satisfying the set of requirements in the first and secondconfiguration definitions, to interact with each other.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one system is one of: a virtual appliance;a virtual image; and a physical system.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein the set of software entities identified by at least one of thefirst set of requirements and the second set of requirements comprisesat least one composable software bundle, wherein a composable softwareis a cloud independent description of software that captures a set ofaspects needed to install and configure the software in a virtualmachine.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first setof requirements and the second set of requirements comprises at leastone software product requirement, wherein the software productrequirement identifies at least one software product required to bepresent on at the least one system.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein atleast one of the first set of requirements and the second set ofrequirements comprises at least one of one or more operating systemrequirements, and one or more hardware requirements, wherein theoperating system requirement identifies at least one operating systemrequired to be present on at the least one system.
 6. The method ofclaim 1, wherein at least one of the first definition and the seconddefinition comprises a set of capabilities identifying one or moresoftware entities to be installed by the cross-configuration softwaremodule on a system satisfying the set of requirements in the at leastone of the first definition and the second definition.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, wherein at least one of the first definition and the seconddefinition comprises a set of artifacts, wherein the set of artifactscomprises at least one of one or more installation scripts forinstalling software binaries and one or more configuration scripts. 8.The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one set of operationsfurther comprises at least one configuration parameter at leastidentifies at least one parameter that configures the at least a firstsoftware entity with at least a second software entity.
 9. The method ofclaim 8, wherein the configuration parameter is at least one of suppliedby a user, and propagated from at least one or more systems coupled tothe cross-configuration software module, and one or more of the set ofsoftware entities identified by at least one of the first and second setof requirements.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the configurationparameter is produced by the at least one executable instruction.
 11. Amethod of creating a cross-configuration software module forcross-configuring software entities, the method comprising: retrieving asemantic representation of a set of systems capable utilizing thecross-configuration software module, wherein the cross-configurationsoftware module is a self-contained software package configured toautomatically cross-configure software entities to interact with eachother, the semantic representation semantically representing a set ofrequirements, wherein the set of requirements identify at least one setof software entities required to be present on the set of system,wherein the set of software entities identified by at least one of thefirst set of requirements and the second set of requirements comprisesat least one composable software bundle, and wherein a composablesoftware bundle is a cloud independent description of software thatcaptures a set of aspects needed to install and configure the softwarein a virtual machine; retrieving a functional representation of a set ofoperations, each operation in the set of operations is to be performedon a set of software entities associated with the set of systems duringat least one connector life-cycle phase in a set of connector life-cyclephases, wherein the set of operations cross-configure at least a firstof the set of software entities with at least a second of the set ofsoftware entities; identifying a set of artifacts comprising at leastone of a set of metadata and a set of executable instructions associatedwith the set of operations; and storing the semantic representation, thefunctional representation, and the set of artifacts, in thecross-configuration software module.
 12. The method of claim 11, whereinthe semantic representation semantically represents a set ofcapabilities associated with the set of systems, wherein the set ofcapabilities identify one or more software entities to be installed bythe cross-configuration software module on at least one of the set ofsystems.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the set of executableinstructions comprises at least one of: a configuration script; and aninstallation script.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein the set ofsystems comprises at least one of: a virtual image; a virtual appliance;and a physical system.
 15. The method of claim 11, wherein the set ofconnector life-cycle phases comprises at least one of: a connectorinstall life-cycle phase; and a connector configuration life-cyclephase.
 16. The method of claim 11, wherein the set of executableinstructions is a script that installs one or more software entities onat least one of the set of systems during one of the set of connectorlife-cycle phases associated with the script.
 17. The method of claim11, wherein the set of executable instructions is a script thatconfigures one or more software entities installed on at least one ofthe set of systems during one of the set of connector life-cycle phasesassociated with the script.
 18. A method of creating a virtual systempattern, the method comprising: receiving a selection of at least onesystem comprising a set of software entities; identifying a plurality ofcross-configuration software modules, wherein each cross-configurationsoftware module is a self-contained software package configured toautomatically cross-configure software entities to interact with eachother, and wherein each cross-configuration software module comprises atleast two configuration definitions each comprising at least a set ofrequirements identifying at least one software module to becross-configured, wherein at least one of the set of requirementsidentifies at least one set of software entities required to be presenton at least one system comprising software entities to becross-configured, wherein the identified set of software entitiescomprises at least one composable software bundle, wherein a composablesoftware bundle is a cloud independent description of software thatcaptures a set of aspects needed to install and configure the softwarein a virtual machine; comparing the set of software entities of the atleast one system to the set of requirements for each of the plurality ofcross-configuration software modules; identifying, based on thecomparing, at least one of the plurality of cross-configuration softwaremodules having the set of requirements being satisfied by at least twoof the set of software entities of the at least one system; andautomatically cross-configuring the at least two software entities basedon the at least two configuration definitions of the at least oneidentified cross-configuration software module, wherein theautomatically cross-configuring automatically configures each of the atleast two software entities to interact with each other.
 19. The methodof claim 18, further comprising: displaying, via a user interface andprior to the automatic cross-configuration, the at least one identifiedcross-configuration software module to a user; and receiving, based onthe displaying, a selection from the user of the at least one identifiedcross-configuration software module, wherein the automaticallycross-configuring is performed based on receiving the selection from theuser.
 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the automaticcross-configuration comprises: executing at least one operation definedby the at least one of the two configuration definitions on at least oneof the at least two software entities.
 21. The method of claim 20,wherein the automatic cross-configuration further comprises: installinga set of artifacts included in at least one of the two configurationdefinitions on the at least one system, wherein the set of artifacts arerequired by the at least one operation.
 22. The method of claim 21,wherein the set of artifacts are installed prior to the at least onesystem comprising the at least one of the at least two software entitiesbeing captured, and wherein the at least one operation is executed upondeployment of the at least one system.
 23. The method of claim 21,wherein the set of artifacts are installed upon deployment of the atleast one system, and wherein the at least one operation is executedupon deployment of the at least one system.